Identification and reconstruction of a modular locomotor network in the mammalian spinal cord

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K06695
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Neurophysiology / General neuroscience
• Research Institution: University of Toyama
• Principal Investigator: Nishimaru Hiroshi 富山大学, 大学院医学薬学研究部(医学), 准教授 (20302408)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): KOBAYASHI RYOTA 国立情報学研究所, 情報学プリンシプル研究系, 助教 (70549237)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 脊髄 / 歩行 / マウス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we analyzed the output pattern of rhythmic motor activity in the left and right sides of a single segment preparation taken from the spinal cord of neonatal mice. Rhythm activity with patterns similar to actual walking can be induced in the motor neuron group in such preparation suggesting that a modular network that forms the rhythm is localized in a single segment. We estimated the average variations in excitatory and inhibitory synaptic conductance during a locomotion cycle from a single voltage trace. We found that the peak of excitatory conductance occurred during the active phase of the locomotor cycle, while the peak of inhibitory conductance occurred during the non-active phase. These results suggest that the locomotor-like activity is generated by push-pull modulation via excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs.

Free Research Field

神経科学